Multiple cable connector



June 1964 A. B. GUNTHEL, JR., ETAL 3,137,754

MULTIPLE CABLE CONNECTOR Original Filed Oct. 9, 1958 INVENTORS Gu/v 7,454., Jk. Mun /w 1 0/551. 5/? BY ATTORNEYS 4.4 may) .5.

United States Patent Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 766,325, Oct. 9, 1958. This application Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No.

, 2 Claims. (Cl.174-72) This invention relates in general to electrical connectors and particularly to a new and useful multiple connector having an improved cable securing and moisture sealing construction permitting easy electrical and mechanical connection of cables thereto.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 766,325, filed on October 9, 1958, now abandoned.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a multiple connector.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a partial elevation and partial section of a connector constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodied therein includes an underground connector generally designated 10 and comprising a main conductor body 12 and a plurality of branch conductor elements generally designated 14. Each of the branch elements 14 includes an area of larger diameter 16 having a central end portion which is hollowed as at 18 toreceive the stripped end 20 of a cable generally designated 22.

In accordance with the invention, the main conductor body 12and portions of the branch elements 14 adjacent the conductor body are provided with a thick insulation cover 24. The insulation cover 24 is of such a thickness that its outer surface is in line with the outer surface of the enlarged diameter portion 16 of the conductor 14.

The enlarged portion 16 is recessed and threaded along a side and extends transversely inwardly toward the cable receiving recess 18. A metal set screw 28 is threaded into the recess of the portion 26, and is provided with a recessed hexagonal face 31 to receive an Allen head wrench for cable tightening purposes. The cable 22 is stripped of its insulation at one end, and this end is positioned within the recess 18 to extend beyond the inner end of the screw 28. The screw 28 is then tightened in position down unto the stripped end 20 of the cable 22. This effects the clamping and the electrical connection of the cable 22 with the branch conductor elements 14.

In accordance with the invention, the branch conductor elements 14 are provided with an insulating sleeve cover 30 which fits over each element to a location adjacent its juncture with the main conductor element 12. When a cable is not positioned in the recess 18, the insulating element 30 is tightened to the branch elements 14 by a mechanical clamp generally designated 32. The clamp 32 includes an encircling band 34 and an adjusting and tightening screw 36 to tighten the band 34 on the insulating sleeve 30. The opposite end of the sleeve 30 includes a reduced diameter conductor receiving opening Patented June 16, 1964 50 which is offset and eccentric to the opening at the opposite end of the sleeve and of a dimension substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cable 22. The uppermost sleeve 30 shown in FIG. 1 is plugged with an insulating member 38 and this end of the sleeve is tightened thereover by means of a clamp generally designated 40. The clamp 40 contains an encircling band 42 which is tightened by a screw 44 similarly to the band 32.

When it is desired to insert a cable into the recess 18, the plug 38 is removed after the clamp 40 is loosened. The cable 22 is then stripped at an end location as at 20 and this end is inserted in the recess 18. The insulating sleeve 30 is then pulled back on the cable to expose the set screw 28. The set screw 28 is then threaded tightly down in its recess to electrically and mechanically clamp the cable in position. Thereafter the insulating cover is moved back into position with its ends adjacent the main conductor body 12 and each of the clamps 32 and 40 are tightened.

Thus the invention provides a connector which is ideally suited for underground connection use and is provided with an insulating sleeve member which ideally and completely insulates each connection. The sleeve member construction permits easy removal of the sleeve for access to the metallic set screw 28 for cable tightening purposes.

The construction is such that excellent insulation of the conductor is maintained whether a cable is positioned in the recesses or whether a plug 38 is used to seal the open end.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise.

We claim:

1. In combination, an electrical connector and at least one insulated electrical cable, said connector comprising a main conductive body, at least two branch conductive elements joined to said main conductive body, each of said branch elements being provided with a hollow cable receiving end, a set screw threaded into each of said elements and extending into communication with the hollowed interior of said hollowed end for clamping a cable therein, the outer end of said set screw being within the outside surface of the associated branch element when said set screw is in a clamping position, an insulating cover covering said main conductive body and portions of said branch element adjacent thereto excluding said set screw and an adjacent area of said branch elements, said adjacent area of said branch elements being a widened portion substantially flush with said insulation cover, and an insulation sleeve having a main portion of substantially the same internal diameter as said widened portion and said insulation cover extending over said branch elements in the area of said set screw and having an outer end inside portion of substantially the same internal diameter as the external diameter of said cable and embracing said cable, and means for clamping said sleeve at each end thereof for moisture proof direct gripping engagement with said insulation cover at one end and with said cable at the opposite end.

2. In combination, an electrical connector and at least one insulated electrical cable, said connector comprising a main conductive body, at least two branch conductive elements joined with said main conductive body, each of said branch elements being provided with an elongated hollow cable receiving opening each having a pair of spaced parallel side walls, a set screw threaded into each of said elements transverse to and in communication with said opening for clamping a cable therein, said set screw having a thread diameter dimension in excess of the width of said opening thereby threadedly engaging the opposite side walls of said opening and having an outer end within the outside surface of the associated branch element when said set screw is in a clamping position, an insulating cover covering said main conductive body and portions of said branch element adjacent thereto excluding said set screw and an adjacent area of said branch elements, said adjacent area of said branch elements being a widened portion substantially flush with said insulation cover, and an insulation sleeve having a ,main inside portion of substantially the same internal diameter as said widened portion and said insulation cover extending over said branch elements in the area of said set screw and having an outer-rend inside portion of substantially the same internal diameter as the external diameter of said cable and embracing said cable, said outer end inside portion having a central axis offset from the central axis of said sleeve main inside portion, and means for clamping said sleeve at each end thereof for moisture proof direct gripping engagement with said insulation cover at one end and with said cable at the opposite end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 353,984 Smith Dec. 7, 1886 1,583,479 Marr May 4, 1926 2,087,384 Lee July 20, 1937 2,635,132 Rogoff Apr. 14, 1953 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND AT LEAST ONE INSULATED ELECTRICAL CABLE, SAID CONNECTOR COMPRISING A MAIN CONDUCTIVE BODY, AT LEAST TWO BRANCH CONDUCTIVE ELEMENTS JOINED TO SAID MAIN CONDUCTIVE BODY, EACH OF SAID BRANCH ELEMENTS BEING PROVIDED WITH A HOLLOW CABLE RECEIVING END, A SET SCREW THREADED INTO EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS AND EXTENDING INTO COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLLOWED INTERIOR OF SAID HOLLOWED END FOR CLAMPING A CABLE THEREIN, THE OUTER END OF SAID SET SCREW BEING WITHIN THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE ASSOCIATED BRANCH ELEMENT WHEN SAID SET SCREW IS IN A CLAMPING POSITION, AN INSULATING COVER COVERING SAID MAIN CONDUCTIVE BODY AND PORTIONS OF SAID BRANCH ELEMENT ADJACENT THERETO EXCLUDING SAID SET SCREW AND AN ADJACENT AREA OF SAID BRANCH ELEMENTS, SAID ADJACENT AREA OF SAID BRANCH ELEMENTS BEING A WIDENED PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH SAID INSULATION COVER, AND AN INSULATION SLEEVE HAVING A MAIN PORTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME INTERNAL DIAMETER AS SAID WIDENED PORTION AND SAID INSULATION COVER EXTENDING OVER SAID BRANCH ELEMENTS IN THE AREA OF SAID SET SCREW AND HAVING AN OUTER END INSIDE PORTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME INTERNAL DIAMETER AS THE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID CABLE AND EMBRACING SAID CABLE, AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING SAID SLEEVE AT EACH END THEREOF FOR MOISTURE PROOF DIRECT GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID INSULATION COVER AT ONE END AND WITH SAID CABLE AT THE OPPOSITE END. 